Paradise Visitor Center

Mt. Rainier National Park

FFA was hired by the National Park Service to design a new Visitors Center at Mount Rainier National Park. Working at Mount Rainier means working under the unique conditions that exist at 5,400 feet. The extreme temperature, heavy snowload (up to 1200 inches annually), and the delicate natural environment mean special consideration of everything from design elements to transportation of materials to the site.

At the grand opening of the center the National parks Service boasted its pride in the building with Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne calling it a "Rockwell painting" (standing room only audience included) and Park Superintendent Dave Uberaga called the building a cathedral.